Here’s another word pair that is often confusing for people. These words are called homophones–which mean they sound alike (same sound), but have different meanings.
* stationary (with an a) is a verb which means still, not moving, in one place.
* stationery (with an e) is a noun that names the paper used for formal written communication–either personal or business.
For a high-tech way to remember which word to use when, remember that you use email to send digital communication and stationery for hand-written or printed formal communication.
The professional writing and editing team at Writing It Right For You is ready to help you with any projects–confusing or not!
Are there any other homophones that confuse you? Let us know in the comments section!
Related articles
- Say What? Do You Mean This or That? You Probably Heard a Homophone. (french-as-a-second-language.com)
@Chris: LOL! It’s a deal. Since I can’t draw a circle around a plate, I’ll stick to editing and you do the designing!
They could put you on retainer to edit. I am able to edit, but I’d rather stick to designing. I just shared on my Sabre page
@Chris: OR they could put US on retainer to edit their sites!
This one is a huge deal to me. Especially where graphic designers are concerned. They should at least know how to spell ‘stationery’ on their own websites. It makes them look really bad if a client knows it’s incorrect.